After what can be termed to be a long holiday, tomorrow students are meant to report to their respective schools. Although these schools run on different structures on fees payment, it all rotates around paying fees on time.

This will see many, both parents and students in a queue at different banks. It’s in this respect that the bank slip at the dining table awaits consideration. However, the talk in town not only for the businessmen but monthly earners too is that the season is a hard one as far as cash is concerned.

Many excuses and different explanations are being attributed to the season. But this does not create or make any change. There are demands which are permanent; these can never be evaded despite the yelling.

Vivian Umutoni is a business lady operating from Kimironko market. She deals in a variety of commodities alongside other side generating income projects as she said. She explains the hardship she is facing in taking back children to school.

"There was almost no business in early December until towards Christmas. After the festive season, business has been moving at a snail’s pace. So, unless I find out another means of getting money, I am really finding it hard to send back my children to school on time,” she said.

She briefly explains what she believes has caused this. "People cut their expenses to save for their children’s school fees which affect our income. It’s not only me, but even some friends I work with.”

Bernard an employee who of course earns a monthly salary said, "There are people who value the  festive season to the extent of spending so much on it and you find that since it comes once a year, people spend on luxurious commodities, yet shortly after the landlord and children and other related responsibilities must be catered for.”

He added, "Other people believe in impressing others especially when visitors come from villages to enjoy Christmas with their loved ones in the city. People end-up moving out to executive and costly places they have never been before.”

He explains that this may end up in requesting with going for advance in December even when payments are made.
Based on the demands shortly after the festive season, there should be reasonable and limited spending.

Besides, the excitement that comes with the festive season exists for a very short time that apart from a few, it’s hard to consider and value it as a cause for parents failing to pay school fees or buying scholastic materials in the right time.

I believe it’s not all that a genuine factor one can come up with when seeking financial help to take a child back to school.

Whatever the bank account status, that bank slip has to be sorted.

Good luck.